There are many different animal tracks at Golden Stable Wood such as deer, badger and fox. On the nature trails you can find the tracks. Some tracks are hard to find but others stand well in the soil. When you find a good print you will be able to use it as a mould for plaster cast. To make the plaster cast you are given some plaster of Paris, water, a collar, a bucket and a stirring stick. Mix the plaster of Paris with the water while a friend puts the collar in the ground around the print. When the plaster is thick an enough pour it into the collar. Leave it to set while you walk the nature trail. When the plaster has set take off the collar by pushing and twisting it.

To find animals there are many signs such as footprints, droppings, pellets and feathers. Most of Golden Stable Wood shows these signs. The Badger print is a strange shape and rather rare to find. Deer prints are more common and are easier to see. They look like a small horse hoof but not joined at the top. We took a plaster cast of a Deer print and took it back to school.

Jessica and Charlotte.

One of the few amazing activities we did at Golden Stable Wood was bug hunting.

We had a few  minutes to go pond dipping with 2 nets, a plastic tub with water in, a tray and 4 spoons.

Firstly, Louise and Vicki had the 2 nets and scooped their nets through the water.  They then emptied the nets into the tray for Jake and Mozza to separate the leaves/pondweed and the creatures. Then they emptied the creaturesinto the tub filled with water.   They caught a lesserwater boatman, a common pond snail, a fresh watershrimp and tons of caddis fly larvae.

By Jake, Mozza and Vicki.

When we went to Golden Stable Wood one of the main attractions was shelter building, out of wood found in the forest. We had 2 teams which were girls against boys. The girls built a great shelter, which held 5 of us.  The boys also built a great one but it only held 2 people though. However, they won by 5 points because theirs was more camouflaged!   It also was low to the ground and would retain body heat well.

Very comfy!  What  about hot tea?

Looking for Jake?  A well camouflaged shelter!

We thought all the activities on offer were fun and could be quite exciting.  There were lots of others which included:

Following the farming year

This activity includes feeding spring lambs and watching them grow. Also you can see the changes of the farm all year round and learn about crop cycles, soils and the farm machinery.

Learning about andidentifying leaves, seeds, bark, twigs, the shape, colour and management of trees and woodland habitats.

Seeing animals at North Frith Farm, identifying and catching small mammals, finding signs of wildlife, learning about life cycles.

Pond dipping to learn about freshwater animals and freshwater foods and finding out what type of animal you are looking at.

Learn how to catch mini beasts, find out what food they eat and where you can find them.

Learn how to find butterfly trails, butterfly conservation and the different habitats where they are found.

Learn how to track an animal by looking at droppings, footprints, pellets and feathers.

Finding and identifying birds, learning bird songs, knowing when they migrate, looking in nesting boxes and what they feed on.

Learn how to identify flowers by structure and where they grow and sketching flowers.

Find out how freshwater fish reproduce, grow, keep healthy and feed.  learn about common food webs.

Finding bats, moths, owls, glow worms, rabbit, deer, foxes and badgers.

Go on quiz trails and scavenger hunts. Take part in environmental games, initiative challenges and join in some wild singing!

by Charlotte and Vicky